On the next day.

The classroom buzzed with the kind of barely-contained chaos only a room full of future ninja could achieve.

Naruto Uzumaki was perched on top a chair, tongue stuck out in concentration as he prepared a classic prank; an eraser precariously balanced on the doorframe. Nearby, Sasuke Uchiha sat alone, arms crossed, brooding with practiced intensity, which only served to increase the volume of the sighs and squeals from the small crowd of admiring girls.

Choji munched loudly on a bag of chips, unbothered by the noise. Next to him, Shikamaru Nara slumped in his seat, eyes half-lidded, clearly wondering why he even bothered getting out of bed.

Akamaru barked excitedly from atop Kiba's head as the Inuzuka heir loudly proclaimed he would surpass the Uchiha and become the number one ninja in the class, if not the village.

Amidst it all, the door slid open and Iruka Umino stepped inside, already sighing at the volume.

The eraser trap? Dodged easily. The ninja wire strung across the threshold? Not so lucky.

Thwap.

A textbook, rigged like a spring-loaded trap, slammed directly into his midsection with a dull thunk.

Iruka bent forward with a wince, wheezing.

Naruto howled with laughter, pointing victoriously. "Gotcha, Iruka-sensei!"

Iruka slowly turned, pain and disappointment mixing on his face in perfect harmony. "Naruto..."

But before he could launch into the day's first lecture, a new voice cut through the room. Calm, measured, and somehow heard by everyone.

"Is this the level of Konoha's next generation?" the voice asked. "I could take on an army of you with a sock as flail."

Heads turned. Mouths closed. Even Naruto paused mid-cackle.

At the back of the class, standing with the smug air of someone who already knew he was the most interesting person in the room, was a boy no one recognized. Almond-colored hair fell down his back, a white t-shirt casually worn alongside khaki-colored shorts and flip-flops.

He stepped forward, eyes lazily drifting over the class. A handful of potato chips in his hand as he slowly picks one up and eats it.

Choji looks down at his bag of chips only to find a full handful missing, "That's my chips..."

Shikamaru sat up a little, trying to remember everything in the past minute or so.

"I am Senju Itomaru," Itomaru looked at them like a king inspecting his subjects, "Auntie sent me to teach you weak chickens how to be ninjas. She told me to be nice, but she also said I could humble the loud ones if necessary."

He turned his gaze directly on Naruto. "That means you," turning to Inuzuka Kiba, "and you," Then, as if thought of something, he opened his arms and vaguely gestured to everyone, "actually, that means almost all of you."

Naruto is annoyed, "Bastard, who do you think you are?"

Akamaru barks atop Kiba's head as he adds, "Do you want to fight?"

Itomaru stared at Naruto like he was mentally handicapped, "I already told you. You're just lagging," shaking his head, he then turned to Kiba, "Fight? Sure, does anyone have a sock?", he stretched his free hand to the other students, like someone might actually give him one.

Naruto blinked. Kiba stopped, and Akamaru stayed silent.

Shrugging, he ate the rest of the potato chips.

A wave of silence flowed through the entire class, and even the wind from the opened windows seemed to slow down.

Haruno Sakura had widened eyes, "Wait, Senju?", as if she just realized what that name actually means.

Sasuke straightened in his seat, suddenly paying attention.

Shikamaru sighed, but his back became slightly straight.

Kiba looked annoyed, but he did not speak.

Iruka, still recovering from the hit, sighed and muttered, "I need more vacation days."

Naruto squinted, pointing an accusatory finger. "Wait a second—how were you in the back of the class?! I didn't see you come in!"

Itomaru blinked at him as if Naruto had just asked what two plus two was. "That's because you were too busy playing with wires and chalk. You know... like a child." He made a vague gesture with his hand, as if flicking away a mosquito. "I walked in with the sensei, took some chips," turning slightly to Choji, with a exagerated pointing finger, "Very tasteful, by the way," then turned back to Naruto, shrugging, "you were just too loud to notice."

Sasuke frowned. Shikamaru lost his laziness for a moment and thought whether there was any signs before.

Hinata hunched over, slightly scared, as Ino asked quietly, "did you see him with your eyes?"

Hinata vigorously shook her head, "N-No... I-I just saw Iruka Sensei, t-then he spoke."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "Are you calling me an idiot?!"

"Not calling," Itomaru replied, tilting his head. "Just... heavily implying."

Offended, Naruto jumped up onto his chair. "Alright! I challenge you to a spar! Right now!"

Itomaru turned to Iruka. "Is the yelling a regular thing, or should we call a medic?" Then, as if he remembered something, he puts his fist on his palm. "Wait, Auntie taught me. I'm the medic."

Iruka sighed deeply. "Just take your seat, Naruto."

But Itomaru was already scanning the room, ignoring Naruto's rising temper. "Where's my Madara?"

The class blinked, confused.

"My what-now?" Iruka asked, confused.

"My Madara," Itomaru repeated, as if it were obvious. "Hashirama had Madara. A proper rival. Dangerous. Charismatic. Capable of destroying entire landscapes with a single glare. I was promised drama! I want my Madara."

His eyes finally landed on Sasuke, sitting coolly in the corner, arms folded and eyebrows furrowed. Itomaru's gaze narrowed.

"Wait. Is that him?" He pointed a lazy finger. "The brooding one? Black hair. Sitting alone. That's textbook Madara behavior." He paused dramatically. "Except... too scrawny. Not nearly enough threat in the eyes. More like a broody hen than a proper force of nature."

Sasuke twitched.

"I mean, where's the fire?" Itomaru continued, now addressing the room like a disappointed director. "The menace? The edge? All I see is a pouty face with decent cheekbones."

Naruto cracked up. "He called Sasuke a broody hen!"

Kiba laughed until Sasuke shot him a look. The laughter stopped immediately.

"W-Why does it fit so much?" whispered Ino to Sakura. Both of them were angry at his insult against Sasuke, but they still could not stop but have the image of Sasuke as a hen taking care of its eggs in theirs minds.

"Uchiha?" Itomaru said as if surprised, feigning sudden realization as his eyes drifted to the fan symbol on Sasuke's back. "Oh! That explains the mood lighting."

He gave a slow, almost respectful nod. "Wearing the symbol does not make you Madara, though. That would be like me calling myself the First Hokage just because I can grow a bonsai."

A few students blinked. Others laughed loudly.

He sighed, "But auntie Tsunade said 'no' when I tried. Something about 'you are not yet ready for the big leagues' and 'not turning the forest into my personal signature.' Boring stuff."

That sent the room's into confused whispers.

"I get these weird lectures sometimes," He shrugged.

Then he looked back at Sasuke, sighing softly while shaking his head. "Seems I will have to make my own Madara, then."

Naruto leaned toward Shikamaru. "Who's Madara?"

Shikamaru didn't look up. "Big scary guy. World-breaking power. History books pretend he never existed. You would've liked him."

"History's boring," Naruto muttered.

Sasuke stood, eyes locked on Itomaru now. "You talk big."

Itomaru nodded. "I know. Talking big, posing cool, beating up armies. That's overpowered character 101. You'd know if you were one."

Choji turned to Shikamaru, "What is he talking about?"

Shikamaru sighed. "He is saying he is too strong for us to understand him... or we are to weak. Either way, a troublesome guy."

Iruka stepped forward quickly, placing himself between the two boys. "Alright! Let's save the sparring for the training field. Sit down, both of you."

Itomaru yawned and sauntered toward an empty seat near the window. His steps making his flip-flops loudly clap against his feet. "Fine, fine. Just let me know when someone in this class can blink without embarrassing themselves. Or bring me a sock."

Naruto looked ready to explode.

Sasuke sat back down, but the glint in his eyes had sharpened.

Iruka looked around the classroom, eyes tired. "This is going to be a long year."